The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-21
ON THE PENSION LIST,

Commissioner Blacks Report of the Pres
emit acknowledgements atoms.
WASHINGTON, September 14.-General
John @. Black, Commissioner of Pensions,
in his annual report to the Secretary of
the Interior, makes the following import
ant suggestions:
First-The allowance of 81 per month to
minor children entitled to pension is in
adequate for their support and should be
increased to s. per month.
Second-That the act OF une is, 1880, be
go amended as to permit the benefits of
the act to be extended tn those who subse-
queni to the date of its approval from
sgg-svation of their malady may become
helpless.
Tbird-That the existing law that q
widows pension certificate can only bear
date from the day on which she files
her application, should be amended to al
low the commencement of the pension to
date from the death of the husband, the
other conditions required by the law being
present,
Fourth-That section AIS of the revised
statutes be so amended as to prohibit the
payment of more than one pension 10 the
same person.
Fifth-That the law requiring pension
to be graded according to the rank OF the
claimant at che time the inquiry was re-
ceived should be amended so that the rank
subsequently acquired bona-fiue may be
considered by the commissioner in deter
mining the amount of pension to be al
lowed.
Sixth-Tnst the present rate for deaf
ness should be increased by law to $50 per
month for total dea mess, with lntermedi-
the degree of disability.
seventh-That discretion should be
lodge in the commissioner In correcting
discrepaI cies in rates of pensions for loss
of limos, or Congress should be asked to
establish a table of rates for loss of limbs.
Eightb-That this law be amended so
that the commissioner shall be authorized
TO psy the pension to the wife of q
pensiorer, or to a suitable person on be.
bali of his children, when the habits OF
the pensioner show him to be al unfit per-
son to receive or disburse the pension.
Ninth-That an appropriation of $1S 900
be made to dtfIay he expenses of add
tic nal necessary pension sger cies.i
Tenth-rhat an additional clerical force
be allowed, to enable the commissioner
without masking extra demands upon the
clerks now in service, to complete and sat
isfy the Mexican pension claims, of which
5000 have been allowed since the passage
of the act,
The report shows that there were at the
close of the year 406, 0O7 pensioners. There
were added to the rolls during the year
the names Of i55 1914 new pensioners and
the NAMES of 2,707 whose pensions had
been previously dropped, were restored to
the rolls. During tae same period the
names of II, 677 pensioners were dropped
from the rolls. The aggregate annual value
of all pensions is $50, S24, Gal; an increase
OF like value for the year of So, lie, 633. The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was $40, 465, 5S1 increase in amount over the
previous year of 5000, 80. The amount
paid to 44,019 new pensioners during the
year upon first payment was SOS, 166, 900.
Duipg the year 50, 1914 original certificates
were issued, greater number than was
ever before issued by the bureau In any
one year. The estimates for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1888, aggregates $40 045,-
220. The appropriation for the last fiscal
year was S7S ;701 $50.